Fowler's Walk-Off Single Lifts Huskers Past Iowa

NEBRASKA  6 5 iowa
Box Score

Inning-by-Inning
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Iowa	1	0	0	0	1	0	3		5	9	1
Nebraska	3	1	0	1	0	0	1		6	7	1

Pitching
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Jablonski (4-3)	0.2	1	0	0	0	0
L - Starkenburg (3-7)	6.2	7	6	5	6	3
S - None	0.0	0	0	0	0	0

Individual Leaders
	AB	R	H	RBI	2B	BB
Kaylan Jablonski	2	1	2	2	0	1
Mattie Fowler	4	0	2	3	0	0

Game Notes

Nebraska used a duplicate starting lineup and batting order for the first time in 35 games this season, as the lineup and order matched the lineup in Saturday's win at Maryland...the Huskers scored in the first and second innings to extend their streak to scoring in 11 consecutive innings dating back to Saturday's game...Kiki Stokes led off the bottom of the first with a walk to extend her streak to 16 consecutive games reaching base safely...Mattie Fowler had a two-run single in the first inning, and she now has an RBI in eight of her last nine games and 11 of her last 14....Fowler has hit Nebraska's last two walk-off hits, including a walk-off three-run homer vs. DePaul on March 20.

Lincoln, Neb. - Mattie Fowler's two-out, RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Nebraska softball team to a 6-5 victory over Iowa in game one of a Wednesday doubleheader at Bowlin Stadium.

The Huskers led 5-2 heading into the seventh inning, only to see the Hawkeyes rally to tie the game. Iowa had the go-ahead run on third base with two outs but could not come up with the clutch hit. Nebraska had the same situation in the bottom of the seventh when Fowler delivered the walk-off winner.

Nebraska improved to 23-12 overall with the win and moved to 4-3 in Big Ten play with its third straight conference victory. Iowa (9-22 overall, 1-6 Big Ten) lost its 11th one-run game of the year.

Sophomore right-hander Kaylan Jablonski (4-3) earned the win for the Huskers, tossing two-thirds of an inning in relief of junior starter Cassie McClure. McClure allowed five runs (four earned) in 6.1 innings. She had allowed only one earned run until the seventh inning.

Offensively, Fowler finished with two hits, as did Jablonski. Both players also produced multiple RBIs with Fowler driving in three runs and Jablonski adding two RBIs. Senior Kiki Stokes scored three times out of the leadoff spot for Nebraska.

Iowa jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI single from Holly Hoffman.

Nebraska answered back with three run in the bottom of the frame. Stokes drew a leadoff walk and stole second base. Classmate Alicia Armstrong then hit a fly ball to shallow left field and the strong win pushed it back to the infield and the Hawkeye shortstop was unable to make the catch. Jablonski followed with an RBI single to bring Stokes home with the tying run before Fowler delivered a two-run single to right to give the Huskers a 3-1 lead.

A Hawkeye error opened the door for Nebraska to add a fourth run in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Laura Barrow began the inning with a single and an error put runners on first and second. That error loomed large when Jablonski reached on a two-out infield single that scored Stokes.

Nebraska stretched its lead to 5-1 with another run in the bottom of the fourth. Stokes led off with a double. She was at third with two outs when Jablonski walked. With McClure batting, Jablonski took off for second and drew a throw, which allowed Stokes to take off for home. Stokes beat the throw home as Nebraska perfectly executed the double steal.

Iowa got a run back in the top of the fifth on a two-out, RBI double from Hoffman.

The Hawkeyes threatened again in the sixth, but with runners on second and third and two outs, sophomore left fielder Austen Urness made an outstanding diving catch on a line drive off the bat of Kaitlyn Mullarkey.

Iowa brought the tying run to the plate again with one out in the top of the seventh for Angela Schmiederer, who grounded a two-run double just fair down the right field line. With the Husker lead cut to 5-4 and the tying run at second base, Jablonski relieved McClure in the circle. A wild pitch allowed Schmiederer to move to third and she scored on an RBI double to tie the game. Jablonski kept the game tied with a ground out and a fly out.

In the bottom of the seventh, Armstrong drew a leadoff walk and sophomore Gina Metzler came on as a pinch runner. Metzler moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Jablonski and to third on a ground out by McClure. Fowler then fell behind 0-2 before coming back to ground the game-winning single up the middle.

Nebraska aims for a doubleheader sweep in game two.

 

Box Score

 

2016 Nebraska Softball Iowa at Nebraska (Game 1) Apr 06, 2016 at Lincoln, Neb. (Bowlin Stadium)

Iowa 5 (9-22,1-6 Big Ten)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Mullarkey, Kaitlyn 1b.... 4 1 1 0 0 1 8 0 2 Hansel, Haley 2b......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fritsch, Claire 2b...... 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 2 Gyerman, Sammi cf........ 2 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 Hoffman, Holly c......... 4 0 4 2 0 0 3 0 0 Pratt, Cheyenne pr...... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Schmiederer, Angela dp... 4 0 1 2 0 2 0 0 1 Taylor, Katy pr......... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Wood, Allie rf........... 4 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 3 Erickson, Erin lf........ 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Repole, Whitney ph...... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Kurtz, Sarah 3b.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 Kilian, Mallory ph...... 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Chambers, Daniela ph.... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Ibarra, Daniella ss...... 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 4 0 Starkenburg, Shayla p.... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Totals................... 30 5 9 5 4 6 20 11 9

Nebraska 6 (23-12,4-3 Big Ten)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Stokes, Kiki cf.......... 3 3 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 Knighten, MJ 3b.......... 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Armstrong, Alicia ss..... 3 1 1 0 1 0 1 4 0 Metzler, Gina pr........ 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jablonski, Kaylan dp..... 2 1 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 McClure, Cassie p........ 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 Fowler, Mattie 1b........ 4 0 2 3 0 1 12 0 0 Simmons, Alyvia rf....... 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Urness, Austen lf........ 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 Barrow, Laura 2b......... 2 0 1 0 1 1 1 4 1 Cassidy, Bri c........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 2 0 Totals................... 26 6 7 5 6 3 21 11 6

Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Iowa................ 100 010 3 - 5 9 1 Nebraska............ 310 100 1 - 6 7 1 -----------------------------------------

E - Ibarra(2); Armstrong(6). DP - Hawkeyes 1. LOB - Hawkeyes 9; Huskers 6. 2B - Hoffman 2(6); Schmiederer(6); Wood(1); Stokes(9). SH - Hansel(1); Jablonski(1). SB - Gyerman(7); Wood(3); Stokes 2(14); Jablonski(1).

Iowa IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- Starkenburg, Shayla. 6.2 7 6 5 6 3 26 33 132

Nebraska IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP -------------------------------------------------- McClure, Cassie..... 6.1 8 5 4 4 6 27 32 120 Jablonski, Kaylan... 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 3 3 13

Win - Jablonski (4-3). Loss - Starkenburg (3-7). Save - None. WP - Jablonski(9). Pitches/strikes: Starkenburg 132/71; McClure 120/68; Jablonski 13/6. Umpires - HP: Frederick Ewald 1B: Rob Hough 3B: Cathy Creighton Start: 4:04 pm Time: 2:15 Attendance: Game: livegame